Vending machine



Mmh s, 1929. C, GRAY A 1,703,996

. VENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 24. 192'? l:s sheets-sheet 1` www March s, 1929.

C. GRAY VETNDING` MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 59 Maz 3 Sheets-SheetA Filed Feb. 24, 1927 Marge/ys Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNlT'ED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

GCRNEIIIUS GRAY, OF WALNUTIAK, CALIFORNIA.

viiivniuo` ivrnoinniii.-v

Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial No. 170,653.

This invention relates to coin controlled vending machines and more particularly to machines that are especially adapted to vend materials such as gasoline and lubricating oil associated with .the automobile industry.

Practically every owner ot an automobile which machine is provided with suitable coin control means whereby the driver of a vehicle may insert a coin and secure a can olf gasoline, lubricating oil or the like il further object of my invention to provide a vending rmachine in which the4 merchandise to be distributed is yvisible to the purchaser, so thatkhe will not inadvertently deposit a coinin the machine believing that he will receive merchandise when the contents ot the machine has been eX- hausted. j j n i Yet another object of my invention is to provide va vending machine which strong and durable'` which comparatively inexpensive toYmanutacture,` which operates eiliciently, which is not likely to Vget out 'of` order and which is well adaptedv to perform the services required off it.

lilith the foregoing, and other objects in View, which will befmadc manifest inthe it'olllowing detailed description and specilically pointed out in the appended claims, reterenceA is had to the accomjianying drawings for an illustra-tive embodiment "of the invention, wherein Figure 'l is a n'i'achine partly in scctioinhaving a portion oi' the saine broken away to' disclose the interior operative mechanical parts.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional viewv taken along the lino 2-2 of Figure l, j

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional' view taken along the line 33 of Figure l.`

Figure l is a sido elevation of a portion ot' my coin controlling mechanism showing details of construction thereof.

F' 5 isa view taken in the direction f i' a YFiguren and` lo elevation of niy-`veiidiiig j the compartments wherein the merchandise to be distributed is stored.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similarfparts throughout,r the refer# vence numeral l' designates a standard or platform upon which my improved vending machine is mounted. This platform is preferably shell-like in construction and is provided with a plurality oit apertures 2 extending Atherethrougli at points adjacent its 'periphery sothat the machine may be suitablyclan'iped to a foundation vby means of suitable bolts or the like (not shown). k'pllie center of this platform ,extends upwardly to form a hollow, lsupporting structure 3', and the upper end oi this tubular sup porting structure has formed thereon a table or they like it, having ak marginal depending apron 5. The tubular supportingstructure is provided at a point intermediate itsy length with an internal', annular flange 6, upon whichfiiange there rests a partition. The

space above said partition provides a coin collecting tray which will be described herealter. The table 4l has a central `aperture therethrough and mounted in this aperture is a short cylindrical sleeve member 9` having bracketsf? formed thereon. Apers tures 5mi/endr through these brackets 7` and these apertures are adapted to receive suitable bolts 8 which extend "through apertures in the table 4l, thereby enablinglthe sleeve 9 to be firmly clamped to the table l. so'that its longitudinal bore extends vertically through the table on either side'. "Mounted within the ysleeve member is a cylindrical tube 1K0, which cylindrical tube'serves as a vertical supporting axis upon which elements ci my` coin control mechanismmay be mounted. rlfhetubeflO has an apertu'rell adjacent its lower end, registering with a iilai aperture 'l2 inthe sleeve S), and a bolt 13 extendsthrough these apertures and holds the supporting `airis rigidly within thesleeve 9'. The tube l0 extends upwardly trom vthe sleeve 9 to a point adjacent the top oit the vending niachine,r and myy actual dispensing contaii'ier `is supported upon this supporting tube which extends Vcentrally through the same. The dispensing container is host shown in Figure 3 ofthe drawings, and consistsot a plurality of compartments df rear walls Y,

and rear walls are arcuate in shape, and when in position these walls as an assembled whole, present the appearance oi concentric cylinders shown in Figure 3. The side walls or ribs 16 are provided at their outer ends with vertical grooves 19 on either side, and the trontwalls or doors 17 are vertically slidable in these notches. The ribs 16 and the rear walls 18 are adaptedto rest on the table 4 as clearly shown in TFigure 1. The space within the center ot the rear walls is provided with a tunnel-like structure having a conical body portion 21, and a depending spout 22 extending through an aperture in the table 4l te the coin receiving compartment 28 which has a bottoni 2 resting on the flange 6, this bottoni being the f partition to which reference was previously made, and a door 25, which door may be controlled by a suitable locking mechanism such as a keycontrolled latch or a combinationcontrolled latch. ln.' cach ot the compartments there is adapted to be stored a sector-shaped container which may be constructed of tin or the like, and which container conforms in configuration to the compartment 15. ln each ot ,these containers there may ce stored gasoline. oil or the like..

Reference to Figure 1 ot the dra-wings will reveal that mounted on the upper end ot the radial ribs 16 is an inverted shell 26, which shell is provided with an annulaidownwardly extending flange 27. rlhis downwardly extending liange has a plurality7 of cutout portions 28 corresponding in number to the radial ribs 16. These cut-out portions are adapted to receive the outer ends of the radial ribsv so that the shell 26 may be supported securely against rotation. rlhe center ot the shell-likelstructure 26 has an upsinnding, annular l'lange O9 which toi-ins the boundarv et an aperture jextendingthrough the shellUQ/G. Supported on theupper end et this fiange 29 is a suitable casing l0 having a depending apron y 31 receivable upon the `flange 29 by means ot a suitable sliding lap joint 32 (Figure 1),

and an aperture 34 at its top, which aperture is bounded by arbearing surface bearing against the tubular member' 10. The casing is rotatable upon the tubular member and upon the shell 26, and a hollow arm 36 is Formed on. the casing 30 `and in this arm there is disposed a coil spring through which spring extends a` plunger 37 having a handle 38 thereon and a handle 39 is termed on the outer end of the arm 36. The coil spring normally holds the plunger in an extended position by virtue ot the fact that it is under compression between a shoulder 10 on the plunger 37 and the apron 31. A collar 11 'clea-rlyf shown in Figures 1, il. and 5 is mounted on the tubular member 10 and is secured thereto iirmly by means ot a suitable set screw 4t2 (Figure l). This collar is pro ures e and 5 of the drawings.) This collar has a plurality ot vertically extending sockets L15 in which are disposed coil springs t6 and ball bearings L17. A pair of upwardly extending arms e8 and 49 are mounted in a collar 50, which collar rests upon Vthe collar 44e and surrounds the tube 10. This collar has a plurality oi" depressions 51 circumferentially formed on its bottom sur iace, and when the collar rest-s upon the collar 44, these depressions in conjunction with the ball bearings 47 and the springs 4:6, form a restraining means and a centering means whereby the plunger 37 ma be aligned with one of the sockets 113. The arms 118 and 49 are outwardly bowed as at to accommodate the collar e1, and the upper ends ot' the arms L18 and 4:9 are connected together as at 58, andthe tubular member 10 extends through this connection. Arms 118 and Jr-9 have formed intermediate their length, suitable brackets. 54, which brackets are apertured as at 55; and a pin 5e extending therethrough serves as a tulcrum at a point intermediate the length ot a lever' 57. The upper end of this lever 57 is forked as kat 58, and the lower end of the same is provided with a` slot 59. Formed on the plunger B7 there is a shoulder 6() which serves the purpose to be hereinafter described. The lower ends ot the arms 18 and t9 have an outwardly extending portion 61 which has an upwardly extending projection 62. A coil spring 6?) is attached to this projection at one end and the other end is attached to a swinging biturcaled bracket Gil. The projection 62 apertured and is adapted to receive a plunger 65, which plunger is pivoted to the lower end of thev lll() lever 57, in the slot 59. rlhe upper wall et the casing 30 is provided with a slot 66; and a. split supporting bracket 67 is attached to the casing above the slot. A coin chute designated as an entirety at 68 extends through the bracket and through the slot 66 to a. point adjacent the plunger 65. 'lhe coin chute is preferably serpentined in torni. Pivoted to the lower end oil" the coin chute as at 69 by means olV a suitable pin 70, is Athe biturcated bracket 64 referred lo betere. The coil spring 63 serves to hold the bracket in preterred position abutting against the projection 62. The biturcated bracket 64. has apertures 71 and 72 extending through the sides ot the same, which apertures are slight-ly larger than the diameter of the plunger 65 and are adapted to receive the plunger 65 therethrough. On the arms 48 im mi t ansparent globe havino' and a9 at their lower ends are narrow, inwardly extending arms 78 and 74, which arms oppose each other and theii` inner opposing ends are arcuately curved to receive between them the circumference of acoin 7 5. The bracket 64E has formed on one side thereof, a small linger 7 6 which serves as a plunger.

The inner walls 18 of the storage conipartments have thereon a small bracket 77 to which bracket there is pivotally mounted by means ot a pin 78. a. bell crank lever 79, the lower end of which extends downwardly and adapted to make contact with the linger 7 6. rlhe upper end out the hell crank lever 79 has pivotally attacheill thereto a slidable rod 80, on the end oi' which is mounted a latch member 81 (Figure 2). f This latch member comprises a. housing 82 slotted as at 83, kand `within the housing there is anchored by means of a suitable pin 8l (Figure 1) a coil spring. A latch 85 isslidable within the housing 81 and is at all times forced outwardly by the action of the coil spring. The outer walls or doors 17 oit-the storage .compartments have on their upper ends inwardly extending` flanges 86 adapted to rest upon the latch ineinbe'r The: doors 17 have mounted on their inner sur* 1 face, leaf-springs S7 secured to the door by means of suitable screws or the like 88. The outer ends of the cylindrical table el have slots 89 'therethrough through which the doors 17 are adapted to slide downwardly. Each of these slots is `provided on'its Ainterior with a. cut-out portion 90 providing a shoulder 91,` which shoulder actsfas a stop.

There is mounted upon the upper end olf thetubular member 10, al suitable cup-shaped bracket 92, the walls of which are adapted to receive set-screws 93. A. suitable hollow, w a bottom iiange 95 o'l ysuch a size as to be inst receivable within they cupnshaped collar 92, and the setscrews 93 engage the outer portion olf` this flange to hold theglobe-shaped member 94C in place. An aperture 96 is provided in this collar and in this aperture may be mounted a suitable light globe 97 to illumin nate the globe 94. The collar92 has diainetrical opposed aliiertures` 98 therethrough, and the upper end of the tube 1) has registered diametrically opposed apertures 99 and a .pin 100 extends through these apertures to. hold the collar in position on the upper end ol the tubularmember 10..

The operation olf my device is as follows. Vhen a coin is inserted in the slotxot the coin-receiving chute, the coin thus deposited travels clown the serpentine chute and' is received'between the apertured sides 71 and 72 ot' the bifurcated bracket 64,r where it held in position loetween the arcuate surfaces on the inner yopposed .ends oit the shoulders 73 and 74. ',lhe arm 36 is then roling assembly.

ftated until the plunger 37 `is directly oppopressure oi' the plunger 65, and the projeetion or finger 76 engages the bell crank lever 79; and acting on the pin 7 8 as tulcrum, the upper end of said bell crank lever causes' the slidable rodSO to move inwardly and release the latch 85v from under the flanger 86 of the door 17. The door 17' heing slidable in the grooves 19, falls by virtue of its own weight. The leaf spring 87 bearing against the sides ofthe container within the compartment 15, serves to setup a resistance so that thedoor will not drop too rapidly. Then theleaf spring 87 vengages the shoulder 91, the dropping actionl of. the

door kstill further lrestrained and the flange 8G kcomes to rest gently upon the shoulder 91.

'The container having the rgasoline `.or lubrieating oil therein, may `then vbe removed trom its compartment. vYVhen .the pur- Chaser has emptied a compartment, the door remains down as shown on the right hand side of Figure 1, so that a subsequent purchaser will not deposit a coin to open a yillegal procuring of mercljiand'ise through the use ot' coins r`having a face value less lill).

yfilo than the value of thecoin iior which they;

`coin'receiving apparatus has been designed,

orthrough-the use oi washers or the like, s

my coin controlling apparatus has been especially designed. lfnofcoin hasbeen inserted in the com-receiving slot or il' a washer has been inserted, the plunger will go completely through the apertures 71 and 72 and will not rengage the swinging `bii'iurcated bracket (S4, so that the latch 85 Awill not he operated.` l/contemplate designH ing my yvending machine so that the `coin controllingik apparatus will kbeadapted to operatesuccessfully when a silver half dollar or ydollar is inserted in the same. I may provide compartment-s with gasoline or oil 'n containers therein of such a size as to store Il l) CII Cil

one or two or more gallons of gasoline. If a coin smaller than the coin legally adopted is inserted, same Will pass between the arms 73 and 74 directly into the coin-receiving chamber. The device is thus practically insured against fraud. rlhe only manner in which an operator might illegally gain possession of the contents ot one of the compartments, would be to drop in a coin and so time the falling of the same that the plunger 37 might be depressed at the instant the coin passes through the bifurcated bracket G4, but in view ot the fact that the operative connections of the coin-controlling mechanism are concealed, the possibility of a person doing this Would be extremely small.

The illuminating ci'l'cct at the upper eX- tremity ot my vending apparatus may be ot any conventional type, and if desired, snitable advertising material may be painted or otherwise formed on the transparent or translucent globe 94. A suitable plate lOl may be fastened at any particular point on the machine, said plate having printed thereon directions for operating the machine and the legal price tor which the merchandise contained Within a compartment is oered. It is not necessary that the same liquid be .stored in each compartment. @ne compartment may store gasoline and another may store luln'icating` oil. One compartment may store a particular brand ot gasoline and another compartment may store a different brand of gasoline. Similarly, the grade ot the oil may be different in each compartment, and if such is contemplated, the outer side of the door panel may have printed thereon the contents of each compartment so that the purchaser Will not open a compartment and secure merchandise he docs not desire.

l do not desire to limit myseli2 to the use oi my construction Ytor vending motor oils,

gasoline or the like. I contemplate making various changes in the construction ot 1n device. The device is especially handy for use in automatic restaurants Where the doors i7 may be 'tormed of glass, and various. cold dishes may be stored Within the compartments. I further contemplate changing the size and mechanical details of my construction so that the same may readily adapt itself lo the vending of any sort oi" articles. Handkcrchie'lfs, combs. candy and other articles may be vcndeijl by my improved machine. l desire to limit myself only in so tar as the scope of the appended claims may determine.

It will be understood that various changes Y in the detail oli construction may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A vending machine comprising in combination a base, a storage chamber mounted on said base, said storage chamber being divided into compartments, a door for each of said compartments, a latch adapted to hold each of said doors in closed position and manually operated means for selectively releasing said latches to allovv said doors to open and reveal the contents ot said compartments.

2. A vending machine comprising in combination a substantially cylindrical storage chamber, said chamber being divided into compartments by radial side Walls, said side v`v:ills having` grooves adjacent their outer ends, doors slinably mounted in said grooves, said doors being held in position` by latches and means for selectively releasing said latches that access may be had to said compartments.`

3. A vending machine comprising a substantially cylindrical storage chamber, said chamber being divided into compartments by radial side Walls,y grooves adjacent the outer end ot said side Walls, doors slidably mouiitedin said grooves, said doors having an inwardly extending iange, latehesreceivable beneath said flanges to hold the door in closed position, springs on the innersides oi said doors adapted to bear against articles placed in said compartments and means for selectively releasing said latches to alloiv said doors to slide against the frictional resistance of said spring that access may be had to said compartments. l

ll. A vending machine comprising a storage chamber, said chamber being divided into storage compartments having side Walls, grooves in said side Walls, doors slidably mounted in said'grooves, means tor retaining said doors in closed position with respect to said compartments, means tor releasing said doors that access may be had to said compartments, and means for trictioually retarding the sliding movement of said doors.

5. A vending .machine comprising asterage chamber, said chamber being divided into storage compartments having side Walls, grooves in said side Walls, doors slidably mounted in said grooves, means Jtor retaining said doors in closed position with respect to said compartments, means tor releasing said doors that access may be had to said compartments, and means tor' frictionally retarding the sliding movement ot' said doors, said means comprisinga. leat spring on said doors adapted to bear against articles ot merchandise in said compartments.

6. A vending machine comprising a. storage chamber divided into compartments having side `vallsysaid side Walls having grooves therein `and doors slidably mounted in said grooves, latch means for holding doers closed relation with respect isa compartments, means for selectively releasing said latch means to permit said doors to slide in said grooves that access may be had to said compartments and means for frictionally retarding the movement of said doors, said last mentioned means constituting a stop to hold said doors in said grooves in open position.

7. A vending machine comprising in combination a substantially cylindrical container, said container being divided into compartments by means of radial sidewalls, grooves in the outer ends ot said side Walls, arcuate doors slidable in said grooves, said doors having inwardly extending flanges, latches underlying said iianges andmeans for selectively releasing said latches to allow said doors to slide in said grooves, a leaispring on the inner side of said doors adapted to bear against articles ol merchandise in said compartments, to rictionally resist the sliding` movement ot said doors.

8. A vvending machine comprising in combination a container having top and bottom walls, said container being divided into compartments having side Walls, grooves in said side Walls and doors slidable in said grooves, latch means for retaining said doors in closed position, and means for selectively abut against said shoulder When said latch is released, to retain said door in open position. n

9. A vending machine comprising in combination a support, a substantially cylindrical container mounted on said support, said container having top and bottom Walls and being divided into compartments byyradial side Walls, grooves in the outer end of said side Walls, arcuate doors slidably mounted in said grooves, lianges on said doors and latches adapted to extend beneath said flanges to hold the doorsin closed position, means for selectively releasing said latches to allow said doors to slide in said grooves, shoulders on said bottom Walls, a leaf spring on said door adapted to bear against arti cles in said compartments to frictionally resist the sliding movement oi said doors, said flange being adapted to kabut against said shoulders to retain said door in. open positionwvith respect to said compartment.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this speciiication.

ooRNELiUs GRAY. 

